U.S. patent application number 12/875117 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-08 for water recycling device for washing machine.
Invention is credited to TUNG-LIN LU.
Application Number | 20120055203 12/875117 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45769650 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120055203 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LU; TUNG-LIN |
March 8, 2012 |
WATER RECYCLING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINE
Abstract
The water recycling device for a washing machine contains a
hollow body member having a water inlet and a water outlet, and a
disc member axially mounted on a vertical axle inside the body
member. The disc member has a number of actuating blocks, each
having a vertical side facing the water inlet at each turn of the
disc member. When used water is poured inside the body member
through the water inlet, the actuating blocks are pushed and the
disc member spins. Used water and filthy clothes inside the body
member are stirred to achieve a cleaning effect. As such, used
water from a washing machine is recycled to clean especially filthy
clothes without using additional water and electricity.
Inventors: |
LU; TUNG-LIN; (Yonghe City,
TW) |
Family ID: |
45769650 |
Appl. No.: |
12/875117 |
Filed: |
September 2, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/13R |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/006
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
68/13.R |
International
Class: |
D06F 35/00 20060101
D06F035/00 |
Claims
1. A water recycling device for a washing machine, comprising: a
body member having an internal space with a top opening, a vertical
axle inside said internal space, and a water inlet and a water
outlet, both connecting said internal space to outside of said body
member, said water inlet connected to a water outlet of said
washing machine; and a disc member axially mounted on said axle
wherein a plurality of actuating blocks are configured in sequence
on a top surface around a center of said disc member, and each
actuating block has a vertical side facing said water inlet for
each turn of said disc member.
2. The water recycling device according to claim 1, wherein said
disc member is supported by a flange inside said internal
space.
3. The water recycling device according to claim 1, wherein each
actuating block further has a slant side and a plurality of
vertical through channels running through said actuating block and
said disc member.
4. The water recycling device according to claim 1, wherein a
fan-shaped piece is extended from said axle and is beneath said
disc member.
5. The water recycling device according to claim 1, wherein said
top opening of said internal space is sealed by a cover pin-joined
to said body member.
6. The water recycling device according to claim 1, wherein a motor
driving said disc member to spin is configured inside said body
member.
7. The water recycling device according to claim 1, wherein a
barrel surrounds said internal space of said body member; and a
plurality of through holes are configured on said barrel's side
wall.
Description
(a) TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to washing machines,
and more particular to a water recycling device for washing
machines.
(b) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] Usually when people do their laundry, the clothes especially
dirty such as overalls, socks, etc., are separated from the rest.
These filthy clothes are few but still require a full washing
process by a washing machine. In other words, sorting clothes and
washing sorted clothes sometime are not quite environmentally
friendly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A major purpose of the present invention is to recycle used
water from a washing machine to clean especially filthy clothes
without using additional water and electricity.
[0004] To achieve the purpose, a water recycling device for a
washing machine is provided herein. The water recycling device
contains a hollow body member having a water inlet and a water
outlet, and a disc member axially mounted on a vertical axle inside
the body member. The disc member has a number of actuating blocks,
each having a vertical side facing the water inlet at each turn of
the disc member. When used water is poured inside the body member,
the actuating blocks are pushed and the disc member spins. Used
water and filthy clothes inside the body member are stirred to
achieve a cleaning effect.
[0005] For some dirty clothes that require stronger treatment, the
water recycling device could provide some initial cleaning so that
less water and energy would be required for the cleaning.
[0006] In addition, with the water recycling device, the dirt and
debris on the filthy clothes do not accumulate and block the more
expensive washing machine.
[0007] The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief
introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these
and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention
itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the
art, the following detailed description of the invention and the
claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical
reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
[0008] Many other advantages and features of the present invention
will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making
reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets
of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment
incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by
way of illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram showing a water recycling
device for a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective break-down diagram showing the
various components of the water recycling device of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram showing an application
scenario of the water recycling device of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the in-pouring and
out-flowing of used water through the water recycling device of
FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional diagram showing the
stirring up of used water inside the water recycling device of FIG.
1.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional diagram showing the
permeation of used water inside the water recycling device of FIG.
1.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a perspective diagram showing a water recycling
device for a washing machine according to a second embodiment of
the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective diagram showing a water recycling
device for a washing machine according to a third embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only,
and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or
configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following
description provides a convenient illustration for implementing
exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the
described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement
of the elements described without departing from the scope of the
invention as set forth in the appended claims.
[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a water recycling device 1 for a
washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention
contains a body member 10 and a disc member 12. The body member 10
has an internal space 101 with a top opening and a rotating axle 14
is raised vertically inside the internal space 101. A lower section
of the internal space 101 has a smaller aperture so as to form a
flange 104 supporting the disc member 12 which is axially mounted
on the axle 14. A water inlet 102 and a water outlet 103 run
through the body member 10, and connect the internal space 101 to
outside of the body member 10. On a top surface of the disc member
12, a number of actuating blocks 16 are arranged in sequence around
the disc member 12's center. Each block 16 is wedge-shaped with a
vertical side 160 and a slant side 162. The blocks 16 are arranged
so that they slant towards the clockwise direction and their
vertical sides will be perpendicular to the water inlet 102 at each
turn of the disc member 12. Each block 16 has a number of through
channels 164 running vertically through the block 16 and the disc
member 12. A fan-shaped piece 18 is extended from the axle 14 and
is beneath the disc member 12. The top opening of the internal
space 101 could be sealed by a cover 105 pin-joined to said body
member 10.
[0018] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the water recycling device 1
described above is placed immediately next to a washing machine 2
with the water inlet 102 piped to a water outlet 20 of the washing
machine 2. Those especially dirty clothes such as overalls and
socks are placed in the internal space 101 of the body member
10.
[0019] As such, soapy water already used to clean those
not-so-dirty clothes in the washing machine 2 is expelled into the
water recycling device 1 through the water inlet 102. The used
water strikes at the vertical sides 160 of the blocks 16 and the
disc member 12 spins. As the disc member 12 spins, the blocks 160's
slant sides 162 stir the used water and those filthy clothes in the
internal space 101, achieving a washing and cleaning effect.
[0020] The used water inside the internal space 101, while being
stirred by the disc member 12, would permeate through the through
channels 164 to a lower section of the internal space 101 and then
flow out of the body member 10 via the water outlet 103. In order
to be compatible with the used water's in-pouring speed and volume,
the water outlet 103 has a larger aperture. The fan-shaped piece 18
beneath the disc member 12 provides some blockage to the
penetration of the used water so that most of the used water does
not drop behind the disc member 12 immediately.
[0021] Usually a full cleaning course of the washing machine 2
involves three cycles. The used water from the first cycle is
usually dirtier and the water from the remaining cycles is cleaner.
Therefore, it is also possible to give up the used water from the
first cycle and the water recycling device 1 is connected to the
washing machine 2 after the first cycle is over. In addition, some
detergent could be added to the internal space 101 for better
cleaning effect.
[0022] In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a water
recycling device 1a is an integral part of a washing machine 2a.
The water recycling device 1a does not have a cover and could be
pulled out or pushed inside the washing machine 2a like a drawer.
Additionally, a motor 3a is configured in the body member 10a to
drive the disc member 12a to achieve even better cleaning effect.
The rest of the details is the same as the previous embodiment and
is omitted here.
[0023] In a third embodiment shown in FIG. 8, an additional barrel
4b is configured to surround the internal space of the body member
10b. A number of through holes 40b are configured on the side wall
of the barrel 4b so as to expel the re-used water from the washing
machine 2b.
[0024] While certain novel features of this invention have been
shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is
not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be
understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and
changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in
its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
* * * * *